conversations on society and science

6 giugno 20157 giugno 2015

WHEN SPACE SOUNDS GOOD WITH SAMANTHA

“Well, how to fascinate people to the mission “ISS Expedition 42/43 Furura” in the space?” This seams what ESA and the public communication staff should have thought at the very beginning of Samantha Cristoforetti adventure. And the answer probably was: “Let Samantha speak and speak about Samantha”.

I’ve never received so many information about a space mission before, neither when Umberto Guidoni, an other italian astronaut, was the first European to board on the International Space Station in 2001. I’ve never seen so many connections from space as I’ve seen this year, especially on mainstream TV.

First of all because the character of Samantha works, she is very good at speaking, she is very clear and she is brilliant. Second because she is a woman and this is something that in Italy , suddenly, makes noise and keep on capturing the attention of all the media. She is the first italian woman astronaut and the third of ESA.

So Samantha is the right person to bet on to put in contact public without a scientific background with experiments they are doing in the space: human physiology experiments, biologic analysis and 3D print without gravity and moreover with nutrition education, a subject which Samantha considers very important.

Avamposto 42 is the official web-site of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Aeronautica Militare which is following Samantha Space mission. On this site Samantha uploads videos for example about her training, writes a logbook where you can find curiosity about her and her personal adventure and gives answers to all your questions. Yes all, even the question of Mrs Carla who wanted to know how to manage with the period during the permanence in space. But at the same time you can find all the news about the mission, the experiments that they’re making and her suggestions and those of her personal chef Stefano Polato and doctor Filippo Ongaro, about the importance of healty nutrition and physical activity.

3 pensieri su “WHEN SPACE SOUNDS GOOD WITH SAMANTHA”

Very nice article Camilla. I closely followed the adventures of AstroSam (isn’t it nice, the nickname that Samantha Cristoforetti chose for herself?) and like you I think she is the perfect science comunication testimonial. She is a fantastic and brilliant woman, who can inspire an entire nation. She managed to accomplish so much in her life, with hard work and dedication. Everyone can look upon her, expecially young girls, and consider her as a role model. I hope that AstroSam will be a symbol of redemption of a nation, Italy, that seems on the verge of collapse, but indeed has the strength to still believe in science and education.

“The Universe has never been so close” wrote AstroSamantha. She is the girl next door who humbly was able to work where she wanted, offering an example to many Italians. Soon she became a symbolic figure so rich in meaning to be the protagonist of the meme generator accompanied by phrases like “Hey you, study!” or “Go away from Italy … you’re doing it right!” http://generatorememe.altervista.org/tag/samantha-cristoforetti/